Global Xchange Programme

Get ready for the most challenging six months of your life!

Nine young Pinoys. Nine young British.
Six months. Living and working together 24/7.
Two countries. Outside your comfort zone.
One life-changing experience.

Are you up for it?

Global Xchange gives young people from the Philippines and the UK a unique opportunity to live and work together, develop and share valuable skills, and make practical contributions to disadvantaged communities in both countries faced with challenging situations.

The next batch of Global Xchange volunteers will have an opportunity to work with partners and communities that highlight issues around disability, secure livelihoods, and global citizenship.

You can be one of the nine Filipino volunteers of the 2010 Global Xchange!

*18 – 25 years of age by March 14, 2010 (deadline of submission)
*Male or female
*Medically fit to undergo an active 6-month volunteer work
*Completed at least high school or secondary education
*Willing to do fundraising
*Willing to live and work with a British counterpart in a modest accommodation in a host family setting within a disadvantaged community in the Philippines and in the UK
*Flexible, open-minded and with a genuine commitment to learning
*Sensitive to the needs of others and can work within a team
*Can commit a minimum of 6 months (consecutive) to do 3 months of volunteer work in the Philippines and 3 months in the UK, and time to attend preparatory training

The Application Form must be submitted to the Programme Secretariat.

Important reminders:

*Send your Application Form via e-mail to globalxchange@vsobahaginan

.org. We encourage applications sent via e-mail. Alternatively, you may send them through fax at 02-3762160 addressed to Ms. Tessie Bugarin.

*Short-listed applications will be required to submit a Personal Reference Form and a Professional Reference Form before the scheduled Assessment Days.
 

*Deadline for submission of application is on March 14, 2010. Only applications received on or before the closing date will be screened. Short-listed applicants will be invited to an Assessment Day scheduled in March 2010. Training and fundraising activities start in March 2010. Exchange proper commences in April 2010.

http://www.vsobahaginan.org.ph/volunteer/global-xchange/

Community Xchange

EXPLORE A WORLD OF PERSPECTIVES - CATALYZE YOUR YOUTH-LED PROGRAMS!

Thirty development professionals from the Philippines and the UK.

Cultural and professional immersion.

Six weeks. One life-changing experience.

Are you ready to raise your organization to the next level?

Take part in Community Xchange and take your organization to the next level.

Global Xchange is a partnership program that develops and delivers international volunteer exchanges and other activities to help create active global citizens who value volunteering, diversity, community development, and social action.

Through Global Xchange, the international professional development program Community Xchange (CX) was created in partnership between British Council and VSO. CX seeks to make a positive difference to the communities. Community leaders and development workers from the Philippines and UK will work together and learn from each other towards effecting impact at three levels: on the individual participant; their organization; and within their community.

We are inviting 15 Filipino community workers who will act on behalf of their organization or community to undertake a three-week work placement program in Northern Ireland as well as host a UK counterpart in their organization for a corresponding three-week work placement program. Community Xchange will open your organization to new prospects and perspectives in development. Build new networks and engage in active dialogues. Challenge perceptions and stereotypes of global communities. Promote volunteering and measure impact of community initiatives. Increase effectiveness of community leaders in promoting active citizenship. You can be one of the fifteen Filipino participants if you are:

§ At least 25 years old

§ Completed at least secondary education with a good standard of written and spoken English

§ Have significant experience of working with young people (3 years +)

§ Responsible for the implementation of youth oriented program/projects in the Davao region (Davao City and Davao provinces)

§ Can commit 44 work days to the programme: 3 consecutive weeks of work in your organization with a UK counterpart in January 2010 and another 3 consecutive weeks of work attachment in the UK in March 2010, and time to attend preparatory activities

§ Willing to fundraise

§ Willing to explore new and creative approaches to tackle youth issues within one of the programmes themes

§ Supported by an organization that views this program as an opportunity for institutional growth as well.

Visit www.vsobahaginan.org.ph to access more information about the exchange and to download the necessary forms. Deadline for submission of application is on 13 November 2009. Only applications received on or before the closing date will be screened. Short-listed applicants will be invited to an Assessment Day scheduled on November 18-19, 2009. Preparatory activities start in December 2009. Exchange proper will commence in January 2010. For inquiries, please send an email to lilian.delavega@vsobahaginan.org or call 02-3746450 loc. 12

Unite For Sight Volunteer Abroad Opportunities

Volunteer Abroad in Summer, Fall, Winter, or Spring: http://www.unitefor sight.org/ intl_volunteer

WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF VOLUNTEERS LIKE YOU, UNITE FOR SIGHT RESTORED SIGHT TO 10,062 PATIENTS AND PROVIDED EYE CARE TO 300,000 IN 2006 AND 2007

How Do I Apply? The application as well as complete details about Unite For Sight's international opportunities are available at http://www.unitefor sight.org/ intl_volunteer/

Who Is Eligible To Volunteer Abroad?: Volunteers are 18 years and older, and there is no upper age limit. Volunteers range from undergraduate/ college students to medical and optometry students, public health students and professionals, business students, filmmakers and photographers, nurses and nursing students, physician's assistants, teachers and educators, opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists.

What is Unite For Sight's Mission? Unite For Sight is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers communities worldwide to improve eye health and eliminate preventable blindness.

Unite For Sight's work to prevent blindness and restore sight is featured weekly on CNN INTERNATIONAL from September 2007-August 2008.

What Do Volunteers Do?: Volunteers receive hands-on clinical experience while assisting doctors in remote, rural villages. Volunteers learn about international health and eye care, learn clinical skills while working with patients and doctors, and, in one program location, have an opportunity to practice cataract surgery on a goat's eye.

The goal of Unite For Sight and its partner eye clinics and communities is to create eye disease-free communities. Unite For Sight’s volunteers (local and visiting) work with partner eye clinics to provide eye care in communities without previous access. The eye clinic’s eye doctors and Unite For Sight volunteers jointly provide community-based screening programs in rural villages. The clinic’s eye doctors diagnose and treat eye disease in the field, and surgical patients are brought to the eye clinic for surgery. Patients receive free surgery funded by Unite For Sight so that no patient remains blind due to lack of funds. Volunteers immediately see the joy on patients' faces when their sight is restored after years of blindness. These memories last a lifetime.

While helping the community, volunteers are in a position to witness and draw their own conclusions about the failures and inequities of global health systems. It broadens their view of what works, and what role they can have to insure a health system that works for everyone and that leaves no person blind in the future.

Hundreds of volunteer narratives, volunteer diaries, as well as videos of alumni volunteers and partner eye doctors are available on the Unite For Sight website: http://www.unitefor sight.org/ intl_volunteer